- 27 - interest provisions. The December agreements did not contain default provisions. The parties made the simple, but all- encompassing statement: "All of the burdens and benefits of ownership of the subject property are transferred from * * * [seller] to * * * [buyer] as of the date of this Agreement." Further, the sellers placed in escrow all deeds relating to the transfer of the property which were to be recorded by the escrow agent on the designated closing date of July 2, 1984. Accordingly, at the time of the execution of the December agreements, the buyers had not waived the specific performance remedy. That waiver occurred in connection with the superseding May agreements in which a $50,000 liquidated damages note was executed and exchanged. The waiver of specific performance, along with the liquidated damages provisions, did change the partnerships' remedies. At the time of the change, however, the partnerships had exercised possession and control over the condominiums. Furthermore, financing had been arranged, and the closing was imminent (about 1 month distant). Under these circumstances, respondent contends that the substance of the transaction prior to the closing indicated an option. However, Utah law causes us to find that the transactions resulted in equitable title or interests in the partnerships (buyers) as of December 1983. Substance Over Form. Having analyzed several factors, we have concluded that, under Utah law, the December agreementsPage: Previous 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011